International Journal of Agricultural

Science and Research (IJASR)

THERAPEUTIC MANAGEMENT OF CLINICAL MASTITIS IN A MURRAH

BUFFALO: A CASE REPORT

T. GEETHA1 & P. TENSINGH GNANARAJ2

Mastitis is one of the most financially significant deadly diseases of milking animals and causes the glandular
tissues’ changes affecting the quantity and the quality of the milk. The frequency of clinical mastitis in buffalo ranges
between 8 to 40%. According to the reports of Moroni et al. (2006), the quarter-wise occurrence of intermammary
infection in buffaloes was 66%. Since the mammary gland is highly susceptible to infection during the periparturient
period, the incidence was highest during the 30 days after calving. The current study deals with the acute clinical mastitis
treatment in a Murrah buffalo.

KEYWORDS: Clinical Mastitis, Periparturient Period & Murrah Buffalo

A Case Report
Received: Apr 30, 2018; Accepted: May 20, 2018; Published: Dec 05, 2018; Paper Id.: IJASRDEC201812

INTRODUCTION
Case History and Observations

A 6-year-old Murrah buffalo yielding 10 litres milk/day and weighing 350 kg approximately during her
second lactation, was observed with a history of a sudden start of anorexia, reduced liquid intake, a sudden drop in
yield of milk and severe painful swelling of the udder at Dairy unit of TANUVAS, ILFC, Madhavaram milk
colony, Chennai. All quarters of the animal had been observed to be normal in the evening during milking as stated
by the Milker of Dairy unit, but in the morning of the next day, the udder was severely swollen, and the animal
couldn’t walk. On clinical examination, the animal showed tachycardia (89/min), pyrexia (103.0°F), and
tachypoenia (32/min). On physical examination of the udder (especially the right hind (RH) quarter), it was found
to be painful, hot, and highly inflammed, and it was cracked on the swollen quarter. According to Sreedevi et al.
(2002), in more than 80% of cases, the illness is limited to a single quarter and both quarters involvement may be
observed in very much lower percentage of cases, and there will be abnormal enlargement of udder and teats with
gradual sloughing of the teats. The milk from the affected quarters was like custard, yellow in coloration and with
clots or flet a. These observations were in accordance to the finding of Peidy Sreeramulu (1993). With 70% ethyl
alcohol, proper disinfection of teat surface is done and a milk sample of 30 ml from each quarter like left hind
(LH), left fore (LF), right fore (RF) and right hind (RH) was collected in sterile vials after spurting few streams
aseptically, and processed within one hour of collection. As per Devi et al., (1997), the modified California
Mastitis Test (MCMT) was performed immediately and exposed that the milk sample from the RH quarter was ‘+
+ +’positive followed by LH (+) to MCMT and both the forequarters were negative to MCMT. By the method of
Schalm et al. (1971), the microscopic examination of milk for Somatic Cell Count (SCC) revealed that the
maximum number of cells (29 X105 cells/ml) are present in the RH quarter followed by the LH quarter (2.6 X 105

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86 T. Geetha & P. Tensingh Gnanaraj

cells/ml). The SCC of the RF and the LF quarters was under normal range (0.81 X 105cells/ml and 0.59 X 105cells/ml
respectively), for identification and isolation of bacteria (Cruickshank et al., 1975). Standard bacteriological procedures
were accepted, and E. Coli and Staphylococcus aureus were used as the etiological agents. The bacterial isolates were
exposed to an in-vitro antibiotic sensitivity test after identification and isolation by the disc diffusion method (Bauer et al.,
1966). The antibiotic sensitivity pattern displayed that the isolated organisms were highly sensitive to ciprofloxacin (+ + +
+), enrofloxacin (+ + + +), followed by gentamicin (+ + +) and oxytetracycline (+ + +). Swati Sahay (2000), Sharma
(2000) and Prasad (2001), also presented maximum sensitivity to enrofloxacin in cases of mastitis. Against the isolated
organisms, penicillin was ineffective completely. Based on the signs, clinical examination and diagnostic tests, the case
was identified as acute clinical mastitis.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

For 5 days, the buffalo was treated with Inj. Enrofloxacin -15 ml I/M per day. For 3 days, Inj. Chlorpheniramine
maleate -7 ml and Inj. Meloxicam -15 ml was given, intramuscularly. As a supportive therapy, inj. DNS - 15, I/V was
given for 3 days and Agrimin forte-mineral mixture @ 30 g per day. The milker was also guided to make complete
recurrent milking for every 4-5 hours. The animal showed development from the second day of treatment, and on the fifth
day, it was recovered completely with the disappearance of clinical signs completely. The milk was clear, free from flwas
or clots and seen to be white in colour. From all the quarters, the milk samples were found negative to SCC, MCMT and
cultural test.

Mastitis was instigated by multietiolgical agents, but the major pathogens are Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli
of bovine mastitis. Staphylococcus aureus is a usual resident of the udder and E. coli is commonly found in the
environment of the animals. Therefore, when these microorganisms get the chance during injury or trauma to udder,
unhygienic condition and improper milking technique, they enter the teat canal and mastitis grows. The signs of
tachycardia, pyrexia, depression, severe inflammatory swelling of udder, loss of milk yield indicated acute type of mastitis.
Chakarbarti (2000) reported similar signs in mastitis. To check the multiplication of bacteria and septicaemia, the antibiotic
enrofloxacin helps. After intramuscular administration, the high cure rate by enrofloxacin may be due to the high tissue
concentration exceeding MIC values and high bio-availability for most pathogens (Gatne et al., 1997). Chlorpheniramine
maleate was used to neutralize histamine release and Meloxicam as anti-inflammatory agent. DNS helps in diluting the
concentration of toxins produced by organisms and used as a supportive therapy. The owner was also recommended to
provide mineral mixture supplementation because some trace minerals improve the mammary (cellular) defence
mechanism. Hence, enrofloxacin administration along with supportive therapy assisted in the quick recovery of this clinical
case of mastitis after confirmation, in the present study.

CONCLUSIONS

From The Study It Is Concluded That The Mcmt Can Be Used To Diagnose The Mastitis Clinically At Herd
Level And The Abst Can Be Used To Identify The Appropriate Antibiotic For Effective Treatment Of Mastitis. In The
Present Study The Abst Revealed Highly Sensitive For Enrofloxacin And Hence It Was Administered The Animal Had
Uneventful Recover.

Impact Factor (JCC): 6.1964 NAAS Rating: 4.13

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